Water-filter.



E. U. STEELE. WATER FILTER. APPLICATION FILED N0v.25,1e1z

Inventor Attorneys Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

tin'rran sra'ras rairnnr orrroa.

EDWIN 0. STEELE, OF OXFORD, INDIANA.-

WATER-FILTER.

The present invention appertains to waterv filters or strainers, and aims to provide a device of that character adapted to be lnterposed in water conduits or the down spout leading from the eaves-or eaves-trough to a cistern or other receptacle.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the character indicated which shall be comparatively simple, compact, durable and inexpensive in construc men, as well as convenient, efiicient, and de sirable in its use.

This invention alsocontemplates the pro vision of afilter or strainer comprising a complete article adapted to be nterposed 1n the water conduit or spout, and including a casing having an opening in one side and a door hinged to the lowerend of the opening and bearinga filtering receptacle having a foraminous bottom adapted to contain the filtering agent or agents, thereby to permit the door to be swung open for purpose-of emptying or clearing the filtering receptacle.

To the above and other ends, which will appear as the description proceeds, them-' vention resides 1n the combmatlon and arrangement of. parts and in the details of constructlon hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodimentfof the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein f Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the devlce, the door being shown partially opened.

Fig. 2. is a vertical central section ofrthe device with the door closed, the door being shown in open position in dotted lines.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the

casing is rectangular, or square in cross section and is constructed ofthree blanks- One blank is bent to form the .back 3 and the sides 4,.the second blank is bent to form the front 5 and the bottom 6, while the third blank forms the top 7. The back 3 and sides a l are provided at their. lower ends with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1912.

"he back and sides.

Patented Oct. 21 1913.

Serial No. 733,496.

inturned flanges 8 bearing against the bottom 6, whilethe said bottom is provided with the upturned flanges 9 overlapping the lower ends of the back and sides, the respective flanges 8 and?) being soldered or otherwise secured to the bottom and the back and sides; The back and sides are also provided at their upper ends with the inturned flanges lObearing against the top 7, while thetop is provided with the downturned flanges 11 overlapping the back and sides, the respective flanges 10 and 11 being soldered or otherwise secured to the top and The front wall 5 terminates intermediate the ends of the casing so as to provide an opening extending from side to s1de,or-rather, the front side of the casing is opened from its upper end or top to a point shortlof its lower end or bottom. The top 7 is preferably provided with a .downturned flange 12. at its forward edge,

and the forward edges of the sides 4: are preferably provided with outer back turned edges or flanges 13 co-extensive with the opening. The bottom 6 and top 7 have the respective collars. 14: and 15 attached thereto, so as to facilitate the attachment of the sections of a spout or conduit to the ends of the casing, in order that the water may descend or gravitate through the casing. The front wall 5 is also provided with the back turned flanges 16 overlapping and soldered or otherwise secured to the side walls 4: below the opening.

described, it is to be understood'that the same may be fashioned from sheet metal or other materials in any desirable manner within the scope of the mechanic or artisan. It is of importance, however, that the easing should be square or rectangular in contour, should be provided at its ends with the spout attaching collars, and shouldbeprovided with the opening in one SlClB'GXtGIlCling from one end to a point short of the other end, for the purposes which will hereinafter more fully appear.

For convenience in securing the caslngto a wall or other upright adjoining the spout orconduit, the back wall 3 may be provided with a number of projecting ears 17 secured thereto, through .which securing members may be passed so as to take in the wall or other upright and thereby support the casing. It willtherefore be apparent, that the casing will be firmly supportedto assist in I Although the casing is preferably constructed in the manner above.

supporting the spout or conduit, as well as preventing the casing from rotating or being otherwise displaced. The particular manner of supporting the casing is of no vast importance, and may be altered to suit the various circumstances.

The door has been designated by the numeral 18, the same being preferably fashioned from sheet metal or other suitable stock and being rectangular in contour. This door 18 is fiat and is hinged at an intermediate point, or at a point adjacent one end, to the upper edge of the front wall 5 or to the lower end of the opening, so that the outer or upper end of the door may swing against the forward edges of the side walls and top for closing the opening. The door 18 is provided with the inturned flanges 19 along its side edges and outer end, the flanges at the sides extending from the hinge to the outer end of the door. The flanges 19 are adapted to fit snugly over the respective flanges 13 of the side walls and the flange 12 of the top, in order to effect a tight closure. Thus, when the door is closed, there will be no liability of the water to splash or leak out of the casing. As a means for effecting the hinge joint between the door and the upper edge of the wall 5, the door is provided with one or more hinge butts 20, in this case two, and the upper edge of the wall 5 is curled outwardly to provide a plurality of hinge butts 21 between which the butts 20 of the door fit so that all of the butts are in alinement. The usual hinge pin 22 is passed through the butts 20 and 21. Thus, the door may be readily swung closed and may be readily opened, it being noted that the inner or lower end of the door swings within the casing and flatly against the front wall 5 below the opening when the door is closed.

The filtering receptacle is also preferably fashioned from sheet metal or similar stock, and from a single impervious blank bent to form a back 23 and sides 2%, the lower end of the back 23 being inclinedforwardly as denoted by the numeral 25. The sides 24 have their forward edges soldered or otherwise secured to the door along its edges. Thus, the back 23 and sides 2st cooperate with the lower portion of the door to provide a receptacle, the said back and sides 23 and 24 extending from the lower end of the door to a point approximately equi-distant on the other side of the hinge. The lower ends of the back 23, sides at and the door 18 are providedwith the inturned flanges 26 on which is seated a reticulated panel of wire mesh 27 forming a foraminous bottom for the receptacle, the bottom being preferably, although not necessarily, soldered or otherwise secured to the flanges 26. It will be noted that the back and side walls of the receptacle are designed to fit snugly against the back and side walls of the casing when the door is closed, so that the water cannot pass around the filter receptacle, but must flow therethrough in order to pass through the casing. It is to be noted, that the lower end of the back 23 of the receptacle is adapted to look into engagement with the back wall 3 of the casing when the door is closed, thus tending to hold the filter receptacle and door in proper working posit-ion. This-result is accomplished by the provision of the lower defiected end of the back 23 of the filter receptacle, the angle formed by the deflected portion being adapted to snap past that point of the casing on a line with the lower end of the door openings. The door, however, may be readily swung open in order to swing the filter receptacle out of the opening, so that the filter receptacle will be inverted on the exterior of the casing, thus permitting the contents of the receptacle to be dumped or ejected. The proportion of parts as clescribed and illustrated permits the filtering receptacle to be readily swung through the opening in the casing, and also provides for a compact arrangement in order that the de vice will not be cumbersome.

A latch is pivoted to the forward portion of the top 7 for engagement of the upper end of the door when closed, so as to lock the dOOr in such position to prevent its being accidentally opened. This latch embodies the shank 28 having a loop 29 at one end engaged through a sleeve 30 secured to the top of the casing, the shank having a hook or catch 31 at its other or free end adapted to snap or swing over the upper or free end of the door. Thus, when the door is closed, the latch may be engaged over the upper end thereof, and when it is desired to open it, the latch may be readily raised to free the door.

In use, the casing is interposed inthe down spout or conduit, the sections of the spout or conduit being connected to the respective collars 1e and 15 in order that the water may flow or descend through the casing. Gravel, charcoal or other filtering agents may be placed in the filtering receptacle, and thus, as the water gravitates through the casing, dirt, twigs, leaves and other foreign or extraneous matter will be retarded by the filtering agents and the water will be purified so as to enter the cistern or other container in an unadulterated state. The filtering receptacle may require cleaning from time to time, or the filtering agents may need to be replaced at certain intervals, this being readily effected by opening the door 18, so as to swing the filtering receptacle out of the casing. By only partially opening the door, the extraneous matter on the surface of th filtering agents may be scraped off or otherwise removed, or if it is desired to empty or eject the entire contents of the filtering receptacle, the door may be completely opened so as to invert the filtering receptacle to therefore eject the contents thereof. The supply of gravel, charcoal or the like may then be replenished, and when the door has been swung closed, the device is again in condition for filtering water passing through the casing. This device is not only useful in connection with the down spouts extending from eavestroughs to cisterns, but may be employed for various other purposes apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a device of the character described, an upright square casing having an opening in its front extending from side to side, the top and bottom of the casing having spout attaching collars, a. flat door hinged at an intermediate point to the lower end of the opening so that its inner end may swing within the casing and flatly against the front below the opening, a filter receptacle including impervious sides, an impervious back and a foraminous bottom, the bottom of the receptacle being secured to the inner end of th door, the sides being secured to the edges of the door and working snugly within the sides of the casing, the back of ne receptacle being adapted to fit against the back of the casing and having its lower end deflected forwardly, the angle formed EDWIN C. STEELE.

Witnesses LAWRENCE W. SHIPPS, Josnrr-r W. M. OUNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. I 

